A tiny caracal cat mother stood up a fierce lion to protect her kitten from being eaten by the huge predator.

Axar.az reports citing Daily Mail.

The large male lion tried to grab the bite-sized snack when he discovered the much smaller feline and her kitten hiding in the long grass of the bush in the Ngorongoro Crater, in Tanzania.

But despite its size, the 28.5st (400lb) heavyweight didn't bargain on the ferociousness of the 1.8st (12kgs) mum, which weights around the same as a Corgi dog, defending her young so vigorously.

The kitten even gave a few hisses as a bemused male lion looked down on the small snapping cat.

Despite both mum and kitten being in danger of being killed with just the swipe of a paw, the male lion eventually backed down and ran off to chase after a gazelle.